This article is the third in a series of three articles about the cultural phenomenon, “Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Experience,” staged each year in Atlanta, GA by Robert John Connor, award-winning producer/director and CEO of Dominion Entertainment.
This conversation takes place between Stellar Award-nominated performer Latrice Pace and Black Nativity performer and multi-hyphenate Maurice Griffin about their journey to one of the country’s most beloved renditions of Black Nativity. In the first article Latrice interviews Robert John Connor. In the second interview she interviews Black Nativity performer and multi-hyphenate Maurice Griffin. In this final article, Maurice interviews Latrice about her career journey. Read on!
MG: Your single, “It’s Morning”, topped the Billboard gospel chart for 30 weeks and was
nominated for two Stellar Awards. What does this achievement signify for your journey in
gospel music and as a person?
LP: Being at the award ceremony signified awareness. A lot of people were used to me being with my sisters who had not been out for years and doing background with Donald Lawrence and a lot of other people in the industry, but they didn’t get to see me. They now get to see me in the light as a solo artist. So, it signified independence and I’m doing this for real on my own as a solo artist. It was an awareness.
MG: You are really doing an outstanding job. I do want to let you know that.
MG: You’ve performed in powerful productions like Montgomery: The Musical and at events
like DC Women Sing! How do you feel you’re evolving as an artist and creative?
LP: I feel like I’m evolving at my own pace and beautifully. With shows like this (Black Nativity), I’m intentional with making sure something meaningful and doing shows that speak to the moment, speak to the time, speak to the struggle, and even our victories. So, I’m very intentional about that. I feel like I’m evolving beautifully and at my own pace.
MG: You have celebrated ten years with Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Musical
Experience. Please give the readers one word to describe that milestone and why
that word?
LP: Hmmm… One word — consistency. I am big on consistency. I would have to say that the only way you can do anything well is by creating a habit of consistency with everything in your life. It may sound funny, but you brush your teeth every 8 o’clock. The only way to stay committed to something is to make sure you’re creating a life of consistency. So, I would say consistency describes that milestone.
MG: What does playing Sister Frankly in Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Musical
Experience mean to you personally, and how has it shaped your artistry?
LP: Sister Frankly reminds me of the church mothers and their significance in the church culture. They kept us in line. They were spiritually mature. They knew how to scold us in love. So, it’s important to me to keep that memory alive and to keep that presence alive. If not in the churches, then in the church mothers in Black Nativity, because a lot of our churches are missing that piece. With Black Nativity, at least (audiences) get to see and feel the presence of the church mothers in this production, every year, to be reminded
of their importance and their significance in our culture.
Regarding how this role has shaped my artistry, playing Sister Frankly has reminded me of everything that my mother has instilled in me. It goes back to that scripture that says, “Teach your children, and when they get older, they won’t stray from it.” So, even in my artistry and everyday life, I’m still molded by those teachings of the church mothers and my mother.
When concluding the interview, Latrice asked a question of her own to the group (Robert and Maurice), which she also answered.
LP: Why should theater enthusiasts and really everyone see this play?
MG: I believe everybody needs a shock factor and, this is a shock-factoring musical.
Every moment is ‘shockful’ and I mean that in a good way. You will get all the essentials of
gospel, dance and a good storyline that we all know from growing up to now. You get it all in one night, which is needed. If you don’t want to read something, watch this! This is watch-worthy.
RJC: It is a gift that just keeps giving. It is the unifying experience that brings people
from all walks of life, cultures, and faith together. It is something that is so memorable that I never imagined that it would get to this scope of notoriety. It is one of those things that you must see to understand.
LP: For as long as I can remember, Black Nativity has always been an Atlantan tradition for my family to go to see. And the fact that I’m a part of it now. I think that’s important for people to see it, to be reminded of the cultural significance of the African American heritage. And not to exclude anybody else, but also to see it for its artistic expression – the dance, the poetry, and the singing. Earlier, I told someone that it unifies the community. It is engaging. It is important to know and remember all our celebration and culture and faith and community, regardless of your cultural background. We can all come together and be reminded of the hope that we have during this season that will carry us throughout the next year.
Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Experience played at the Ferst Theater, on the campus of Georgia Tech University, December 12-22, 2024. Mark your calendars, because it will return next year.
This post was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. It is the third and last article in a series of three articles about Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Experience in Atlanta, GA.
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